A laptop continues to be the most preferred computing device because it is compact enough for you to carry it around and at the same time, it allows you to run the most complex computer applications. Whether you are at home or on the road, a laptop can be your constant companion and allows you to work, play and get entertained. Most people think of brand names when they have to buy laptops but there is more to consider than just names. What should you consider when you need to buy a new laptop? Read on to find out…

Buying guide

Choosing your Laptop

Mac or Windows?

Mac or PC? This is the first question for you to ask yourself. While PCs sell more worldwide, Macs have their own place in the domain of laptops. This is but obvious because Macs are Apple products and they are considered exclusive by many. A Mac is more elegant to look at and it has the robustness that Apple offers. Windows PCs, on the other hand, have more applications and Microsoft is not as stringent as Apple when it comes to sharing and copyright and so on. In terms of models, PCs have more for you to choose from because the number of Mac models are limited.

Choosing the Operating System

Depending on the type of laptop you choose, you will get the operating system accordingly. If you buy a Mac, you get to experience Mac OS. PCs run on Windows OS. There are other operating systems like Linux that you may be comfortable with. And if you want something different, Chrome OS is another option that you may want to consider.

Do you need touchscreen?

One of the important points to consider in modern laptops is touchscreen. The standard laptops have their keypads and most people consider this a good enough option. But if you want to experience a laptop and a tablet in the same device, then opt for a touchscreen laptop. Some of the laptops also allow you to disengage the screen from the keypad so that you can work on it exactly the way you would work on a tablet.

Laptop and laptop screen size

The size of the laptop also matters a lot. If you intend to use your laptop only for entertainment, choose a screen size of 11 or 12 inches. The most popular option in screen size is 13 or 14 inches. If you want a larger screen, you can choose a screen size between 15 inches and 18 inches. With the screen, you should also look at the display options. Most recommendation 1080p resolution because this is where you get the best display.

Focus on the internal specs

As far as the internal specs are concerned, here are some options for you.

For the CPU, you have a choice between AMD and Intel. Intel is obviously more popular but AMD is not bad at all. Ensure that you buy a laptop with the latest version of the CPU so that you get the best performance out of it.

The standard laptops comes with 2GB RAM. However, if you want a high performance machine, opt for 4GB RAM. If you are considering gaming laptops, you would be well served with 8GB RAM.

Every laptop has in internal hard drive. If you plan to store a lot of files in your laptop, 1TB hard drive is ideal for you. You can even go more than 1TB. When you look at the best gaming laptop, you will find that the hard drive space runs into multiple TBs.

For standard graphics, the integrated graphics card is good enough. If you want a gaming laptop, then opt for an AMD or Nvidia graphics processor.

For connectivity, look for USB, WiFi and Bluetooth – all these are present in all the modern laptops.

Save money shopping online

If you intend to buy a cheap laptop, shop online. Thanks to the deals and discounts offered by the online stores, one of the best laptops can be yours within your budget. Don’t go too cheap though because you will not get the functionalities you desire.